Rear Brake Safety Spring

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Commando850

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Oct 5, 2009
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Hi folks, I have a question.
I have just purchased a rear brake safety spring for my 74 Commando. Unfortunately is doesn't come with any instructions on how to install it. Can someone help with instructions on how it should be installed - possibly a picture.

Thanks,
Paul in Canada.
 
Welcome!! Always glad to have new people.

Maybe it fits on just like the rear brake spring, I have seen these springs, they shouldn't be hard to figure out, it holds the brake pedal up in case the cable breaks. Take the cable off and see if you can make it work.

Dave
69S
 
Its part of the puzzle to solve yourself.
Got to pull brake lever off its post then put spring on so long
arm with crook on it supports the lever from underneath.
I forget what the short spring tang butts against or hook on but once
you fiddle with it a bit, it can only work one way.

hobot
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I still really don't understand how it's supposed to go on, but it doesn't really matter. I can just put piece of an old tyre inner-tube like I used too - seems a much simpler solution than this overly priced Chinese puzzle of a spring. Its seems so funny to me that even the so-called "fixes" are of extremely poor design.

This bike doesn't work right and probably never will. I cannot for the life of me get it to shift into neutral when its running, and if it goes into 2nd - the tranny jams there - its impossible to get it to go into first, or neutral. If you shut the bike off you can shift it through all the gears with 1 finger - but when it's running it shifts terrible. On the move you can shift it - but it doesn't shift right - takes too much effort. I've spent endless hours researching what might be wrong, but to no avail. I've re-adjusted the clutch about 500 times.

I'm getting tired of spending endless hours & massive amounts of money only to have an old bike that doesn't work right. I follow every step-by-step process in the manual for everything that I do - and I have all the manuals that I know of - Original workshop manual, Clymer, and Hayes, but that doesn't seem to work. There must be some sort of magical voodoo type powers that one must possess in order to make a Norton work...and I don't have them, whatever they are. I feel totally defeated. This isn't any fun any more - its just a pretty ornament. I guess from now on all my bikes will have to have "Made in Japan" stamped on them.

Thanks again.
Paul.
 
Commando850 said:
Thanks for the advice guys, I still really don't understand how it's supposed to go on, but it doesn't really matter. I can just put piece of an old tyre inner-tube like I used too - seems a much simpler solution than this overly priced Chinese puzzle of a spring. Its seems so funny to me that even the so-called "fixes" are of extremely poor design.

This bike doesn't work right and probably never will. I cannot for the life of me get it to shift into neutral when its running, and if it goes into 2nd - the tranny jams there - its impossible to get it to go into first, or neutral. If you shut the bike off you can shift it through all the gears with 1 finger - but when it's running it shifts terrible. On the move you can shift it - but it doesn't shift right - takes too much effort. I've spent endless hours researching what might be wrong, but to no avail. I've re-adjusted the clutch about 500 times.

I'm getting tired of spending endless hours & massive amounts of money only to have an old bike that doesn't work right. I follow every step-by-step process in the manual for everything that I do - and I have all the manuals that I know of - Original workshop manual, Clymer, and Hayes, but that doesn't seem to work. There must be some sort of magical voodoo type powers that one must possess in order to make a Norton work...and I don't have them, whatever they are. I feel totally defeated. This isn't any fun any more - its just a pretty ornament. I guess from now on all my bikes will have to have "Made in Japan" stamped on them.

Thanks again.
Paul.
Click to expand...

Uh, where in the world are you? Perhaps there is someone nearby who could help you out.

Then again there are just some people who can't deal with the amount of love a Norton takes.
 
Rear Brake Safety Spring
 
Last edited:
I am tempted to buy another one...sucker for punishment and all that...

If you really want out from under it I am thinking you could find a buyer pretty easy.
 
L.A.B. said:
Rear Brake Safety Spring
Click to expand...

Thanks very very much - that's exactly what was needed. Now I know where the spring goes.

As for the rest...well...maybe I don't have enough "love"...or whatever you call it. Whatever it is...I don't have it. I can do mechanical work, however; I never was very good at magic (maybe that's what you call love). I've never been so fed up with a motorcycle in all of my life. Methinks I'm going to push into a corner of the garage, cover it up, try and forget about all the time and money wasted, and drive my C14.

Signed, Thoroughly Discouraged
 
ludwig said:
Sorry to hear that .
Normally , if there is one thing a Commando does better than many modern Japs it is shifting gears .
Click to expand...

Wow...what a statement....have you ever driven anything modern and Japanese???
 
Commando850 said:
L.A.B. said:
Rear Brake Safety Spring
Click to expand...

Thanks very very much - that's exactly what was needed. Now I know where the spring goes.

As for the rest...well...maybe I don't have enough "love"...or whatever you call it. Whatever it is...I don't have it. I can do mechanical work, however; I never was very good at magic (maybe that's what you call love). I've never been so fed up with a motorcycle in all of my life. Methinks I'm going to push into a corner of the garage, cover it up, try and forget about all the time and money wasted, and drive my C14.

Signed, Thoroughly Discouraged
Click to expand...


Do you have a manual and a parts book? They do help a lot. Don't give up so easily.
 
Commando850 said:
Methinks I'm going to push into a corner of the garage, cover it up, try and forget about all the time and money wasted, and drive my C14.
Click to expand...

Maybe it would be better to cut your losses and sell it, otherwise it is likely to annoy you everytime you walk past it!
 
L.A.B. said:
Commando850 said:
Methinks I'm going to push into a corner of the garage, cover it up, try and forget about all the time and money wasted, and drive my C14.
Click to expand...

Maybe it would be better to cut your losses and sell it, otherwise it is likely to annoy you everytime you walk past it!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't imagine it would be worth anything - it doesn't work!
I think I'd get more satisfaction out of seeing it burn or be crushed.
Sorry...having a bad day.
 
Commando850 said:
I wouldn't imagine it would be worth anything - it doesn't work!
Click to expand...

But to some of us poor foo....I mean, eager enthusiasts, the fact that it doesn't work is an irresistible challenge!

Put it on ebay, or put it in the For Sale section here (with some photos?) and ask for offers, you might be surprised what you'd get for it as it stands?
 
I will take it and love it and make it work. Can't afford to pay you though, but u hate it right?
 
That little grease zert looking thing is the the retainer. Turn it out and the peddle will come off the spindle. It is a good time to clean and relube to help relieve any future frustration pertainting to this area.
 
Commando850 said:
Thanks for the advice guys, I still really don't understand how it's supposed to go on, but it doesn't really matter. I can just put piece of an old tyre inner-tube like I used too - seems a much simpler solution than this overly priced Chinese puzzle of a spring. Its seems so funny to me that even the so-called "fixes" are of extremely poor design.

This bike doesn't work right and probably never will. I cannot for the life of me get it to shift into neutral when its running, and if it goes into 2nd - the tranny jams there - its impossible to get it to go into first, or neutral. If you shut the bike off you can shift it through all the gears with 1 finger - but when it's running it shifts terrible. On the move you can shift it - but it doesn't shift right - takes too much effort. I've spent endless hours researching what might be wrong, but to no avail. I've re-adjusted the clutch about 500 times.

I'm getting tired of spending endless hours & massive amounts of money only to have an old bike that doesn't work right. I follow every step-by-step process in the manual for everything that I do - and I have all the manuals that I know of - Original workshop manual, Clymer, and Hayes, but that doesn't seem to work. There must be some sort of magical voodoo type powers that one must possess in order to make a Norton work...and I don't have them, whatever they are. I feel totally defeated. This isn't any fun any more - its just a pretty ornament. I guess from now on all my bikes will have to have "Made in Japan" stamped on them.

Thanks again.
Paul.
Click to expand...

Where are you located? The AMC gearbox is a beautiful thing when set up properly. I have rebuilt 3 of them so may be able to help. For the gearbox rebuild, Fred Eaton's notes were the most useful to me. They are posted on the Old Britts website. Let me know if I can help. Don't give up!! The Commando is a great bike when properly fettled!!
 
Commando850 said:
I wouldn't imagine it would be worth anything - it doesn't work!
I think I'd get more satisfaction out of seeing it burn or be crushed.
Sorry...having a bad day.
Click to expand...
If you haven't already, see if you can't get a ride on a well sorted out Commando. You may find that it's not your cup of tea. Or you might catch the bug and chase after the allure that these bikes really do possess on their good days and everything is just right. You may not feel like you want to get into the hands on part of the process of going through the bike but you can't help but learning the in's and out's, and that is a major endeavor in itself.
 
Commando850 has a very specific question:

This bike doesn't work right and probably never will. I cannot for the life of me get it to shift into neutral when its running, and if it goes into 2nd - the tyranny jams there - its impossible to get it to go into first, or neutral. If you shut the bike off you can shift it through all the gears with 1 finger - but when it's running it shifts terrible.
Click to expand...

Can anyone address this? Clutch drag? Stack Height? Type of Clutch. What would be a reasonable decision tree to run on the bike to address this specific question.

On the question of selling the bike, could I suggest a trial separation.
 
Adjusting the clutch would certainly be first step. Shop manual is online here: http://rocbo.lautre.net/technique/norto ... p/004.html

Norton gearbox is a thing of smooth beauty when set up properly. Concur with Old Britts as a great source of info on how it works plus teardown, rebuild, and reassembly.

Concur also that you should let us know where you are - somebody local may be able to help you (me, if you're near Boston). - BrianK

EDIT: Looking back through the thread, I see you have the manual and have adjusted the clutch.

I'd reiterate, though, that you should let us know where you are located and let some one of us who's local have a hand at helping you out. Lot of knowledge and experience here (I speak of others....!) and a great willingness to share it (Okay, now I can be included....).

Best of luck to you in any event.
 
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